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During extreme conditions, the transport of the wave-averaged suspended sediment concentrations in the inner surf zone affects dune erosion. Although large-scale laboratory experiments have provided insight in what drives these sediment concentrations, corresponding field data are lacking. To fill this gap, novel field observations of suspended sediment concentrations are compared to drivers that govern sediment suspension during storm conditions known from literature. A total of 128 time intervals of 20 min are analysed, spread over 10 different high water events with different hydrodynamic conditions. For each time interval, the wave-averaged (i.e. 20 min mean) suspended sediment concentration is computed and compared to three suspension drivers. The studied drivers are (1) bed shear due to near bed velocities that originate from mean currents in combination with wave-induced orbital flow, (2) the horizontal pressure gradients under steep wave fronts that increase the forces on the bed material, and (3) bore-induced turbulence that is generated at the free surface and reaches the bed. The derived bore-induced turbulence generates the greatest correlation with the mean suspended sediment concentrations (r = 0.74, p = 4.47E-23). Samples that deviate from this correlation correspond to time intervals with lower values of derived bore turbulence, less wave energy saturation in the inner surf zone, and stronger mean currents. The correlation with the mean suspended sediment concentrations increases when the shear stress originating from mean currents is used for these time intervals (r = 0.83, p = 1.63E-33). For time intervals during which more energetic conditions persist and the wave energy is saturated in the nearshore, bore turbulence was the dominant mechanism in stirring up sediment. The outcome of this study suggests that, based on the events analysed, dune erosion models may achieve more accurate results if computations of suspended sediment concentrations include a bore-induced turbulence term, or if already included, properly address the relative importance of bore-induced turbulence when compared to bed shearing. • A dune erosion field experiment was conducted to study drivers of wave-averaged suspended sediment concentrations. • The studied drivers are (1) flow-induced bed shearing, (2) horizontal pressure gradients under wave fronts, and (3) bore-induced turbulence. • The variability in bore-induced turbulence generated the greatest correlation with the variability in mean suspended sediment concentrations. • When more energetic conditions persisted and wave energy was saturated in the inner surf zone, bore turbulence appeared the dominant driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submarine canyons serve as important sediment transport conduits from littoral zones to the deep sea, with strong impacts on the sedimentation patterns in marginal areas of the ocean. Moreover, such canyons can be major geohazards for submarine infrastructure, warranting a good understanding of their past and current behavior. Here, we present a study of the geological history and the recent activity of the Nahariya submarine canyon, the longest of a system of ∼15 small blind canyons located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, offshore Israel. Two piston cores retrieved from the middle and outlet of the canyon, at 650 m and 915 m water depth, respectively, were the focus of a multi-proxy study aiming to characterize sediment transport and deposition along the canyon during the Last Glacial and up to the present. Both cores reveal a sequence of homogenous sediment of late last glacial age, which are capped by an unconformity overlying by fine laminated sediment dated to the last ∼200 years. Thus, the deglacial and most of the Holocene intervals are absent from the record. Evidence for down canyon sediment transport are abundant and include a 70 cm interval of mud clasts with disordered glacial ages that appears immediately below the hiatus, as well as broken calcareous shells of dead benthic foraminiferal species of shallow marine habitats, which are abundant throughout both cores. Similarly, shelf-derived living benthic foraminiferal species were found in the core-tops, indicating that active sediment transport persists along this canyon today. We conclude that the history of Nahariya submarine canyon includes a period of sediment accumulation that lasted until the last deglaciation. Thereafter, the canyon was dominated by an erosive regime that persisted throughout the Holocene. Sediment accumulation resumed ∼200 years ago. We suggest that the recent resumption of sediment-accumulation is a result of anthropogenic amplification of on-land soil erosion accompanied by a wet period that persisted in the region and enhanced land to sea sediment transport. • The geological history of a blind submarine canyon of E. Mediterranean is studied. • In-canyon last glacial sediment accumulation and Holocene erosion are observed. • Resumption of sediment accumulation occurred ca. 200 years ago. • This resumption reflects anthropogenic on-land soil erosion and shift to wet climate. • Shelf origin sediment is transported to deep canyon during glacial period and recent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuarine deltas play a critical role in the interaction between the ocean and land and serve as the primary location for the deposition of terrestrial organic carbon and pollutants. However, many deltas are increasingly at risk of erosion due to natural processes and human activities. In particular, abandoned estuarine deltas are extremely prone to erosion in the absence of sediment replenishment. The erosion of sediment in these deltas is crucial in comprehending the evolution of delta erosion as it directly impacts coastal geomorphology, ecological environments, geochemical cycling, and carbon sequestration dynamics. Therefore, determining accurately the erosion characteristics of estuarine deltaic sediments is essential for assessing and managing these evolving coastal systems. Therefore, this study conducted erosion experiments on undisturbed sediment samples collected from the subaqueous delta of the abandoned Yellow River Estuary (Old Qingshuigou Estuary) utilizing the UMCES-Gust Erosion Microcosm System. The aim was to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of sediment erodibility and explore the erosion process, characteristics, and influencing factors of the surface sediments in the area. Erosion characteristics exhibited a spatial distribution pattern of increased erodibility in nearshore sediment and reduced erodibility in offshore sediments. The critical erosion shear stress of surface sediments ranged from 0.2 to 0.68 N/m2, while the erosion rate increased linearly with an increase in erosion shear stress and reached a maximum value of 2.119 g/m2 s, suggesting that nearshore sediments exhibited strong erodibility. Furthermore, the erosion characteristics exhibited a strong correlation with the type of sediment. Silt exhibited surface erosion and Type I erosion (depth-limited erosion), whereas silty sand primarily underwent volume erosion and Type II erosion (steady-state erosion). Particle size characteristics played a crucial role in influencing erosion. Additionally, our results revealed that the effective particle size of sediment aggregates and the scale effect of turbulence were also important factors that affected sediment erosion characteristics. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the erosion characteristics of silty sediments but also provide valuable parameters for sediment transport models in large river deltas such as the Yellow River Delta, thus facilitating the release of buried organic carbon and heavy metals from estuaries. • The subaqueous delta of the abandoned Yellow River Estuary sediments were assessed. • UMCES-Gust Erosion Microcosm System was employed for erosion experiments. • Sediment erodibility distribution and erosion process characteristics were analyzed. • Particle size characteristics represented the most important influencing factors. • Erosion characteristics were closely related to the sediment type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are dynamic environments where sediment transport significantly influences erosion, deposition, and ecosystem stability. Accurate modelling of the complex interactions between hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and morphological changes in high-energy shoreface areas is crucial for sustainable coastal management. This study aims to assess sediment dynamics and understand the dominant physical drivers of sediment transport in the shoreface by coupling high-resolution numerical modelling with a shoreface sand tracer experiment. Results from the field experiment showed high diffusion and a net onshore and downdrift movement of the tracer in agreement with the observed hydrodynamic data. The numerical modelling strategy, validated with in situ hydrodynamic data and tracer results, demonstrated good performance and highlighted the dominant modes of shoreface sediment transport. While during low energetic wave conditions, the dominant transport mechanism involves the slow-rate bed load sediment movement toward the shore, under moderate energetic wave conditions, longshore wave-induced suspended transport becomes the prevailing mode of transport. The study provides valuable insights to increase the understanding of sediment transport in the shoreface and highlights the importance of coupling numerical modelling with sediment tracer experiments. • Field observations and numerical modelling are used to understand sediment transport in the shoreface • Conceptual sediment dynamic model combines Lagrangian and Eulerian approaches • Energetic wave conditions increase wave-induced currents and sediment transport rates, with waves breaking over the bar crest. • Streaming and wave nonlinearities are the main drivers of sediment transport in the shoreface • Alongshore suspended transport dominates in the surf zone, distributing sediments downdrift [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Geum River, a representative altered estuary, in-situ mooring and erosion experiments were conducted to reveal the effects of human-controlled discharge on benthic sediment disturbances. The strong discharge through the estuarine dam increased the current velocities within the benthic boundary layer (BBL) up to 79% and 153% during spring and neap tides, respectively. During the discharge period, the suspended sediment concentration in BBL was five times higher than that during the non-discharge period. During the flood phase, a critical shear stress for erosion (τ ce) was in the range of 0.1278 to 0.1391 Pa. Immediately after the ebb phase with strong discharge, τ ce increased to 0.1848 Pa, and the erosion rate (E) decreased from 33.73 to 14.81 mg m−2 s−1. The repetition of human-controlled discharge removed the erodible sediments within BBL, exposing the underlying consolidated sediment bed with low E and high τ ce. The results suggest that an altered estuary is vulnerable to benthic sediment erosion under combined natural and anthropogenic forcings. [Display omitted] • Human-controlled discharge disturbed benthic sediment transport and velocity structures. • Altered estuary is vulnerable to sediment erosion under anthropogenic forcings. • Discharge removed sediments, exposing consolidated sediment with low erodibility. • Erosion experiments present direct evidence on benthic sediment resuspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field work combining in-situ mooring and erosion experiments was conducted in the intertidal flat of Asan Bay to reveal the relationship between sediment erodibility and external forcing and the contribution of local erosion to sediment transport. A total of 25 tidal cycles occurred during the mooring period with 6-h submergence and 5.7-h air exposure. The erosion rate (E) for sediment bed during air exposure was 0.007 g m−2 s−1, which was 36% of E (0.019 g m−2 s−1) during submergence. Although the sediment bed was influenced by consolidation during air exposure, the erodibility of the submerged bed was closely associated with the unconsolidated deposits of sediments newly supplied from tidal channel and bed shear stress (τ cw) induced by current-wave interactions. In particular, τ cw could be enhanced by strong winds, which depended on the ratio (H s / h) of significant wave height and water level, directly disturbing the sediment bed. Under weak winds (H s / h < 0.06), the newly deposited sediments with high erodibility increased the bed elevation. A small amount of the sediment bed was eroded (E : 0.006 g m−2 s−1), as a floc erosion, with a slight decrease in suspended sediment concentration (SSC T). This increased the contribution (57.2%) of eroded sediments to SSC T. Under strong winds (H s / h > 0.06) with enhanced τ cw , meanwhile, the erodible sediment in the bed was depleted accompanied by a decrease in bed elevation. A large amount of sediment bed was eroded (E : 0.025 g m−2 s−1), as a surface erosion, resulting in the rapid increase in SSC T and the enhanced seaward sediment flux. The sediments eroded from the bed were supplied to water column accounting for 86.8% of SSC T. This suggests that seaward sediment transport under strong winds could be caused by surface erosion shifting from floc erosion in the intertidal flat. [Display omitted] • In-situ erodibility of submerged bed was unaffected by consolidation in exposure. • Bed erosion type was shifted between floc and surface erosions depending on winds. • Surface erosion by strong wind increased fraction of eroded sediment in suspension. • Seaward exported sediments were mostly originated from bed under strong wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Port is a large tide-dominated embayment located 75 km east of Melbourne, Victoria that is flanked by a rapidly growing population, significant industrial infrastructure, grazing lands and protected RAMSAR habitats. Remarkably little is known about the sediment dynamics of Western Port despite concerning rates of erosion of the swamp and floodplain deposits including cohesive clay cliffs that fringe the sunkland. As in other tide-dominated systems, sediment dynamics in Western Port are complicated by strong tidal currents, multiple sediment sources and complex circulation. We applied the coastal sediment cell framework to Western Port, in conjunction with high resolution satellite derived rates of coastal change to elucidate sediment sharing among the sub-embayment beaches. Using end member modelling of 20 sediment assemblages based on elemental and mineralogical composition we robustly identified seven end members that correspond to different point and diffuse provenances. Hierarchical clustering of the 20 beaches dispersed across the bay yielded nine coastal cells, delimited by headlands, deep water channels, estuaries or disruptive infrastructure. Analysis of shoreline change within the cells suggests most cells are neutrally or positively balanced but a northward movement of sediments is leading to rotation. The deep channels provide a pathway for Bass Strait sediments to bypass the embayment headlands and tidal currents enable cross shore exchange with the channels beyond wave derived closure depth in some locations. Understanding the sediment cell boundaries and direction of sediment transport can assist with the management of erosion hotspots; the novel approach applied here can resolve complex connected coastal systems such as estuaries and embayments. • Combined datasets used to backtrack sediment transport processes in a tide dominated bay. • We identified multiple self-contained sediment cells within the embayment. • Transport is in the direction of time-integrated wind balance, causing in-cell beach rotation. • Headland bypassing facilitated through deep channel and strong tidal currents. • Despite local subsidence and sea level rise, shorelines are, on average, prograding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2011 Great East Japan Tsunami caused severe morphological changes along the affected coastline on the northeast part of Japan. This study investigates the recovery of river mouths and breaching of sandy coast at the place used to be river mouth in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan after severe erosion induced by the tsunami through analyzing aerial photograph and investigating field data. After several years since the tsunami took place, the morphology of some river mouths has mostly recovered while others still have some damage. Results on the analysis of aerial photograph clearly indicate that the total length of sandy coast on both sides of river mouth plays important role in the recovery process. Moreover, the relevant phenomenon occurring during the morphological recovery process is also investigated. The findings demonstrated the intrusion of sand spit into river mouths due to the tsunami having scoured river mouth deeper than the depth of closure. Interestingly, the intrusion distance was found to be positively correlated with the width of river mouth. In addition, there is an important finding on the practical problem which is related to the intrusion upstream of sand spit. That intrusion shifts the boundary of fresh-sea water upstream, therefore external wave forces must be considered when implementing the design of river structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relation among estuarine processes, mixing mechanisms and turbidity maximum zone (TMZ) formation was evaluated in a microtidal tropical estuary of high fluvial discharge (Magdalena River, northwestern South America). Particularly, assessing the effects of vertical stratification over mixing, estuarine circulation and suspended sediment transport processes. Measurements of salinity, temperature, density, currents and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were performed at the Magdalena river mouth during high and low streamflows to distinguish among two contrasting seasonal conditions (flow conditions, wind patterns, wave energy). Salinity, temperature, density and location of the freshwater-saltwater interface (FSI) exhibited a sharp seasonal variability. The river mouth and delta front were stratified regardless of the hydrologic season, whereas the riverine section was stratified during the low streamflow season, reflecting the balance between fluvial advection and vertical stratification. Reduction of the vertical mixing led to a more clearly defined and extended stratification. Bottom friction is the main mixing mechanism, but as stratification is strengthened along the river mouth, the vertical mixing weakens, promoting the developing of TMZ (SSC >4500 mg l −1 ). Our results indicate that TMZ developing is caused by the convergence of stratified layers near the nodal point and the weakening of bottom turbulence by stratification. Although the TMZ exhibited a strong seasonal variation in its magnitude and extent, it usually formed in the convergence front demarcated by saltwater intrusion. Streamflow is the major influence on the TMZ formation since it allows the development of stratified conditions, which weaken turbulent mixing, and thus promotes particulate matter settling. The Magdalena River estuary can be classified as turbid (4000 mg l −1  < SSC max  < 10,000 mg l −1 ) and extremely turbid during low streamflow seasons (SSC max  > 10,000 mg l −1 ). These values are of the same order as the SSC reported for the Yangtze and Yellow estuaries, classified as having the largest SSC values of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid mud supported by waves can move downslope on a gentle slope under gravity to transport massive sediment across the continental shelf and cause significant geomorphological changes. In order to explore the formation and transportation of fluid mud under extreme conditions, we undertook in-situ measurements and observed fluid-mud-related processes triggered by a typhoon, Danas, in the subaqueous Changjiang Delta. Under the action of waves, firstly, the seabed was eroded slowly for ∼930 min caused by the wave-enhanced bed shear stress; next, rapid erosion occurred when the bed erodibility M e / ρ B doubled the value during no waves. The great change in bed erodibility implied that bed liquefaction occurred due to waves. The fluid mud occurred concurrently with the strongest waves and went through five stages with an interval of 0.5–3.5 h between each stage in which waves weakened continuously. In addition, the five fluid mud stages all underwent three identical phases, i.e. , formation, stabilization, and decay. In the formation and decay phases, the bottom friction force exceeded the buoyancy gravitational force, and the gradient Richardson number (Ri) was lower than the typical threshold of 0.25, indicating that fluid mud was unstable due to high turbulence energy enhanced by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. During the stabilization phase, the buoyancy gravity force was almost balanced with the drag friction force, and Ri was close to or higher than 0.25, suggesting a laminar fluid mud status. Eventually, the fluid mud disappeared when significant wave height decreased to <1.39 m. Our observation results showed that bed erosion and liquefaction both contributed to the formation of the fluid mud, and the fluid mud played an important role in sediment transportation and bed landforms in subaqueous deltas during extreme events. • Wave-induced sediment-bed liquefaction both contributed to sediment resuspension and reduced bed elevation. • Resuspended sediment settled and aggregated near seabed to form fluid mud moving downward along the slope. • Fluid mud was observed to undergo the formation, stabilization, and decay phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale coastal erosion in the Mekong Delta has been dramatically increasing in severity in recent decades. There are several effective hard engineering solutions that have been implemented in this delta to efficiently prevent coastal erosion and stimulate sedimentation while supporting the local ecosystem conservation. These measures include Pile-Rock Breakwaters (PRBW), Hollow Triangle Breakwaters (HTB) and Semicircular Breakwaters (SBW). However, research on the sediment transport, morphological changes and toe erosion for these offshore breakwaters is very limited and is currently in the initial stages of understanding the specific conditions of sediment characteristics and foundations. The objective of this study was to reproduce the morphological changes and toe erosion of three breakwaters due to wave-structure interactions. This was investigated using 2D physical models with 3000 irregular waves during 8 experimental hours (equal to 15,000*T p). To extract the bed morphological changes and toe erosion both specialized laser measurements (SW50M laser ruler) and analysis of high-speed video recording by images digitalization were applied. The experimental results show that the shape and structural design of offshore breakwaters can have a significant influence on the bed morphology on both the seaside and the leeside. We found that generally the toe of the construction on the seaside was eroded due to the occurrence of reflected waves, and that the flow is narrowed while passing through the construction, increasing the flow velocity and causing toe erosion. Additionally, the accretion of sediment at the leeside of the breakwaters was found to be mainly driven by the transport of sediment through the construction. Comparing the breakwater designs the experimental results showed that the HTB has the maximum accretion rate behind the structure, as well as the fastest accretion rate behind the breakwater. The SBW has high wave energy dissipation efficiency, although the toe erosion rate is faster than the other classes of breakwaters. The PRBW shows the fastest toe erosion rate in front of the structure and causes accretion at the leeside of the construction but at a lower rate than the HTB. The findings from this study will help practical designers to reinforce the foot of construction during real breakwater designing and inform stability calculations. We recommendation is to apply these three classes of breakwaters, especially the HTB and SBW, for stimulating sedimentation for mangrove restoration in the mangrove mud-coast delta. • Morphology and toe erosion of three breakwaters were tested using laboratory physical models. • Pile-rock (PRBW), hollow triangle (HTB), and semi-circular breakwaters (SBW) are compared. • PRBW had the largest front erosion and the slowest accretion rate behind the structure. • HTB demonstrates the fastest accretion rate and the largest sedimentation area behind the breakwater. • SBW had high wave energy dissipation efficiency, but a faster toe erosion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shorelines bordering ebb deltas are often subject to deformation by the approach and attachment of ebb-tidal shoals. Although this is a common behaviour, little attention has been paid to the link between shoal migration and the multi-annual development of the adjacent beach-dune system. This study aims to understand beach-dune systems' behaviour during the approach phase of an ebb-tidal shoal attachment event. Topographic and bathymetric data of the barrier island of Texel (NL) was used to calculate shoreline position, beach and dune volume, dunefoot position, and shoal displacement rates. Two classical beach-dune interaction models were used to understand the observed behaviour: the surfzone-beach-dune model and the sediment budget model. The analysis revealed how a larger bank on the land-facing side of the ebb delta split into two smaller shoals with different morphological behaviours. One of the shoals (S1) moved consistently landwards, recently attaching the shore, whereas the second shoal (S2) is still evolving and presents a milder landward movement than S1. In parallel to the landward movement of S1, the adjacent coastline was subject to erosion, partially counterbalanced by nourishments. However, despite the erosion, dunes are growing in volume, suggesting a net positive transfer of sand from the beach to the dunes. In the surfzone-beach-dune model, regular nourishments positively affect beach state by maintaining sufficient beach size for aeolian sediment transport and reducing shoreline erosion. In the budget model, dune volume growth may occur despite a slightly negative beach budget. Framing Texel in the budget model implies that the beach budget before the start of the approach phase is crucial in defining the behaviour of the dune system during this phase. If the shoal approach significantly reduces the beach budget, the system may cross the budget threshold that dune building is possible. Thus, the dune system may evolve to an erosional state, including dune ridge dissection and blowout development. Hence, nourishments have been essential in keeping the current morphological state during the attachment of the shoal, as they restrict the system from crossing the negative morphological threshold. Thus, without the nourishments, beach erosion driven by the shoal might have led to morphological changes in the dune system that could lead to years of a weakened level of protection until foredune recovery after attachment. • Shoal-induced changes in beach budget influence dune development. • Dune morphology may change depending on the beach state prior to attachment. • Nourishments can retain beach budget at a sufficient level to maintain dune morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two barrier systems in southeastern Tasmania afford the opportunity to contrast Holocene barrier evolution and explore large-scale coastal morphodynamics under consistent regional-scale boundary conditions on an embayed wave-dominated coastline. New Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) ages for the previously undated seaward ridges of Seven Mile Beach constrain the deposition of the foredune ridges over the past ~1000 years indicating continued shoreline progradation at ~0.4 m/yr. A further 13 OSL ages collected from the foredune ridges of Nine Mile Beach barrier detail the evolution of this barrier system and indicate progradation commenced approximately ~8500 years ago. Following this, a steady rate of shoreline advance at 0.14 m/yr was evident to near present-day with one phase of rapid accretion ~5000 years ago. This occurred as the barrier system extended eastward to span the full embayment width which resulted in the redirection of the estuarine channel and the subsequent erosion of previously deposited ridges due to channel migration likely over several thousand years. The eroded sediment may have contributed to ongoing positive sand budget in the embayment and continued shoreline progradation. Barrier 'recycling' was also suggested as a potential driver of progradation at Seven Mile Beach based on the truncated margin of the landward ridges. However, at both sites, the dynamics of possible sediment exchange between the back-barrier and open shoreline requires further detailed modelling. The relatively small river systems in this region supply minimal sand to the coast at these sites, however, there is some minor alongshore sediment supply along the western margin of these deep embayment's. In light of this, these two barrier systems demonstrate the importance of internal morphodynamic thresholds and cross-shore sediment exchange from the shoreface as key drivers of barrier evolution and large-scale coastal change in embayed coastal settings. • Holocene barrier deposition in Tasmania was driven by onshore sediment transport. • Shoreline advance at Nine Mile Beach averaged 0.14 m/yr from 8500 years to present. • Erosion of inner margin of the barrier may have augmented sediment budget. • Large-scale coastal behaviour is explained by internal morphodynamic thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating field observations in the high-erosion rate region of the Chinese coastal zone (northern estuary of the Yellow River) were used to investigate the role of wave–seabed interactions in seabed erosion, combined with laboratory erosion experiments on the variations in sediment erodibility due to cyclic wave loading. The field results highlight a strong erosive event that occurred in the presence of high waves, during which the seawater turbidity increased sharply from 50 FTU to 600–800 FTU and the bed elevation decreased by 7.7 mm/h over 27 h. The laboratory results attribute this type of erosion to the contribution of wave actions on seabed sediments, where the waves probably acted as a plough and reduced the threshold velocity and critical shear stress values, thus enhancing sediment transport that also occurs due to the shear effect of near-bed currents during fair-weather conditions. Wave-induced liquefaction, characterised by the uneven build-up of excess pore pressures at different buried depths, may also enhance sediment erosion by generating vertical pore water seepage within the sediment and inducing internal sediment re-suspension. The field observations allowed us to construct a regional mathematical model of seabed erosion that parameterises the wave–seabed interactions, as well as to explore the implications of this model for extensive erosion of Yellow River estuarine sediments. This research represents a major step towards validating the critical role of wave-induced interactions in extensive sediment erosion events within a shallow estuarine system. • Yellow River estuarine sediments are subjected to extensive erosion. • This study examined the role of wave–seabed interactions in the problematic erosion. • Significant resuspension was detected in the presence of high waves during a storm. • Erosion was related to multiple factors including excess pore pressure. • A regional model was built to estimate erosion fluxes under waves of varying intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]